One day after Purdue retained the Old Oaken Bucket and became bowl-eligible for the second straight season, athletic director Morgan Burke announced that Hope had been fired.

Hope went 22-27 in four mostly injury-ravaged seasons.

He ended the school’s three-year bowl drought last season and brought Purdue its first bowl title since 2007 by winning the Little Caesars Bowl in Detroit and was given a two-year contract extension in December that runs through the 2016 season.

Last year’s late-season success raised expectations inside and outside the program — expectations that fell flat this season and resulted in too many empty seats in the stands.

The buyout was only $600,000 and declined by $100,000 each successive year.

Purdue went 5-7 under Hope in 2009, then 4-8 in an injury-plagued 2010, finished strong last year to go 7-6 and won their last three this year to get to 6-6.

It’s the first time since 2006 that Purdue closed the Big Ten season on a three-game winning streak.

Hope is 57-49 in his head coaching career, which began at his alma mater, Eastern Kentucky.

Embree out as head coach of Colorado Buffaloes

DENVER — Jon Embree is out as head football coach at the University of Colorado after just two seasons and four wins in 25 games.

Embree told The Associated Press he was heading into a meeting with his players Sunday night and didn’t want to comment on his firing other than to confirm he’d been let go by athletic director Mike Bohn earlier in the day.

Embree, who had three years left on his contract, said he would talk at a news conference today.

Embree went 4-21 in two seasons in Boulder, including 1-11 this season, the worst in the 123-year history of the program. The Buffaloes were 1-8 in the Pac-12.

Kevin McHale’s daughter Alexandra dies at 23

HOUSTON — The daughter of Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale has died at 23.

Alexandra “Sasha” McHale died Saturday, and the team disclosed no other details Sunday.

Kevin McHale has been on leave since Nov. 10 to deal with what the team called a personal family matter. During his absence, Kelvin Sampson has been the interim coach. There is no timetable for Kevin McHale’s return.

Team owner Leslie Alexander said in a statement that he extends his “deepest condolences” over the loss of the McHales’ “beautiful daughter.”

He called Kevin and wife Lynn “loving and dedicated parents who will need our continued support throughout this very difficult time.” He said the “entire organization is mourning.”

INTERNATIONAL

McIlroy wins Dubai World Championship by 2 shots

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Rory McIlroy made five straight birdies down the stretch to overtake Justin Rose and win the Dubai World Championship on Sunday, ending a historic year in which the 23-year-old Northern Irishman won the PGA Championship and the European and PGA tour money titles.

The top-ranked McIlroy recovered from early putting woes to finish at 6-under 66 for a total 23-under 265 at the season-ending tournament. Rose, who was tied for seventh after three rounds, surged down the stretch into contention after shooting a course-record 62 that included an eagle and eight birdies.

“I just wanted to finish the season the way I thought I deserved to finish the season,” McIlroy said after holing a birdie on 18.